EnergyCents

IHS Markit Upstream Research Directors Reed Olmstead and David Vaucher return to review the accuracy of their 2020 predictions for the Upstream sector, and share new predictions for the coming new year. We also quiz Reed and David on their favorite pop-culture hits of 2020 in this year-end episode. Send your questions and comments to us via email to [email protected].

Upstream oil & gas companies face increasingly complex strategic decisions as they seek to meet growing energy demand while at the same time maintaining capital discipline, reducing emissions and meeting investor expectations amid the energy transition. How are upstream companies responding to this challenge? Portfolio investments, adoption of new innovations and the digital transformation are all crucial factors in this ecosystem of changing energy demands and sources. Hear more about the digital transformation within upstream energy at www.ihsmarkit.com/dx.

ExxonMobil announced plans in November to focus its upstream attention on three core growth positions in the US Permian Basin, Guyana, and Brazil. Tony Reinsch, IHS Markit senior advisor, shares his views on the announcement and what a concentration of growth from select basins and dominant operators means for the future of the Upstream sector. Send your comments or questions to our podcast team at [email protected].

With a rapid acceleration of countries around the world announcing net-zero targets, the conversation livens around which technologies will support these ambitions. Governments, utilities, and traditional energy players are all seemingly potential players in the rise of hydrogen, which provides a good foundation for the commodity becoming a great disruptor. Please listen to Catherine Robinson, IHS Markit's Head of low-carbon gas research, give her take on how hydrogen fits into the energy future. Send your comments or questions to our team at [email protected].

The past two US presidencies have overseen surges in domestic oil production, market-share declines for coal, and exponential leaps in renewable technologies. How might the domestic energy landscape change under a Biden administration? IHS Markit Principal Analyst Justin Jacobs rejoins EnergyCents this week to share his views on the incoming administration's energy priorities, the realities of those priorities, and how they may shape, or reshape, energy-investor portfolios. Send your comments or feedback to our team: [email protected].

Electric vehicles are emerging as an increasingly pivotal part of a more carbon conscious future. Fellipe Balieiro, who leads our Mobility and Energy Future service, joins EnergyCents this week to discuss how surging investment in EV technologies and expanded government policies are driving the industry's evolution globally. Send your comments and questions to us via email at [email protected].

LNG markets are at a crossroads as oil producers remain under pressure, and political and financial support shifts toward lowest carbon alternative energies. IHS Markit Vice Presidents Michael Stoppard and Roger Diwan join EnergyCents this week to consider the players driving both markets, and the significance of recent events to the future of each market. Send us your comments or questions by emailing [email protected].

Upstream digitalization continues to make progress and accelerate but companies are struggling to deliver their goals of data democracy which is crucial to getting value from all available content and driving new workflows. In this installment, we explore the essential steps of ultimate data discoverability and accessibility and think about when the upstream industry might achieve these key stages of digital transformation. Send us your comments or questions at www.ihsmarkit.com/upstreampodcast.

Many of the Oil and Gas industry's largest companies are charting very different futures dependent on how each prioritizes low-carbon projects within their respective portfolios. Chris DeLucia, of IHS Markit's Companies & Transactions research team, joins EnergyCents this week to share his views on the strategic imperatives shaping these companies, and what it means for a transitioning sector going forward. Have a question or topic idea? Submit it to our team at [email protected].

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced in September 2020 that China will strive to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2060. China is the world's largest emitter of carbon globally, making the implications huge for the world's environment, the economy, and the energy sector. Xizhou Zhou, IHS Markit Vice President of Power and Renewables, joins the podcast this week to share his views on the announcement and outlook for its implementation. Send your comments, feedback or questions to our team at [email protected].

Oil prices have hovered around $40/bbl for several weeks after extreme volatility led to negative prices in April 2020. Investors are watching OPEC+, the potential resiliency of North America shale, and a US presidential election for signs of what to expect from oil markets in 2021. Karim Fawaz and Raoul Leblanc return to EnergyCents this week to share their views on what to watch for.

The business round table statement from last year explicitly said that all companies should have a social purpose, not just the purpose of generating profits. The discussion cannot be ignored and ESG has emerged as an increasingly integral aspect of valuations. This prioritization has the potential to present as either a threat or opportunity to companies, energy companies in particular. A threat to those not adapting to it, and an opportunity for those who seize upon it. In this podcast we discuss emergent ESG trends and specific implications within the energy industry with Brian Matt and Roger Diwan.

California is viewed by many as the vanguard of a greening power sector, but hot summer weather forced CAISO's first stage three emergency since 2001. In part two of our conversation, we continue to discuss potential lessons from California's experience with IHS Markit power experts, Wade Shafer and Doug Giuffre, including the future of batteries and new infrastructure projects.

For years, oil and gas companies have implemented technologies to move their businesses forward - increase efficiency, prioritize safety and lower costs - as part of the energy transition. This year COVID-19 accelerated that for many companies. So, where are energy companies in this transition? Our upstream technology and innovation research team joins the podcast to discuss. Have feedback or a question? Send it to us at www.ihsmarkit.com/upstreampodcast.

Hot summer weather compelled the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) to impose blackouts on several hundred thousand customers in the middle of August 2020. These events marked CAISO's first "Stage 3 Emergency" since the 2001 Energy crisis, and have attracted widespread attention as California is viewed by many as the vanguard of a greening power sector. In this two-part episode, we discuss potential lessons from California's experience with IHS Markit power experts, Wade Shafer and Doug Giuffre.

After years of struggling, Guyana's oil and gas industry found success in 2015 with the Liza discovery. Since that discovery, the success rate continued - leading to more growth and spreading to Suriname. Our experts join the podcast to discuss the exploration and discovery process and what might be ahead. Have a question or topic you want our team to cover? Submit to us at www.ihsmarkit.com/upstreampodcast.

In part 2 of our conversation on scenario planning, Dr. Steven Knell walks through the various climate scenarios with our team. Join us as we finish the discussion of how COVID-19 has impacted the energy transition.

A global pandemic in 2020 introduced new variables to the potential timing and implications of a transitioning energy sector that increasingly prioritizes climate-change mitigation. In part one of a two-part topic, we discuss the value of scenario planning for uncertain futures and how COVID-19 has changed our experts' expectations and assumptions.

The 2020 confluence of $0 commissions, stock-market volatility, and stay-at-home restrictions has led to a rising presence of retail investors in energy stocks. In this episode, we discuss reasons for the trend, and expectations going forward.

2020 is proving to be a tough year for oil and gas - no matter if its onshore or offshore activity. Low offshore activity, cost impacts and demand challenges have left the markets depressed. So, where will investments be made? Are there bright spots ahead? Our team of offshore and onshore experts discuss.

Two $10 billion gas-infrastructure deals may be leaving investors asking, "if it's built, should we buy it?" as financial market participants seek relative cash-flow certainty in a low-rate environment. In this week's episode, we consider with Michael Stoppard and Ed Kelly whether more infrastructure dollars may be on the prowl for other deals and where some of the transactional risks and opportunities may be going forward.

Chevron agreed on July 20, 2020, to acquire Noble Energy for $5 billion, or $10.38 per share. The announcement comes a bit more than a year after Chevron's unsuccessful bid for Anadarko Petroleum, and will increase Chevron's upstream presence in Global Gas and North America unconventionals. We discuss with IHS Markit experts the deal's implications for the sector, and whether it signals a resurgence in Upstream M&A going forward.

After a chaotic start to 2020, perhaps we can say that the worst is behind us. Our North America onshore researchers discuss where there are signs of stabilization for 2020 onwards. Listen as they share recovery updates on the proppant, pressure pumping and upstream water segments.

Media and forecasters are increasingly making past-is-prologue comparisons between the 1970s and the coming 2020s, flagging potential parallels in pandemics, protests, and presidential campaigns. What can we learn from the 1970s as we consider energy markets in the coming decade?

IHS Markit's Financial and Capital Markets Energy Research team discusses whether the rapid oil-price increase on the back of COVID-19 economic shutdowns has gotten overheated, and what near-term response to expect from North American producers.

Our Asia-Pacific upstream research team explores the future of Chinese national oil companies. Balancing energy security priorities with the oil and gas declines during this downturn could mean different strategies and priorities for China's NOCs compared to the previous oil market crash. Learn more insights at www.ihsmarkit.com/energyblog.

The interconnectedness of the North America oil and gas industry means ripples are felt throughout the value chain. Our experts share the outlook for North America crude, financials and gas. Learn more about the North America outlook at https://ihsmarkit.com/research-analysis/the-north-america-oil-and-gas-industry-enters-survival-mode-.html

From a global perspective, conventional exploration and discoveries are at the lowest level in seven decades. In many ways, the rise of unconventional resources has diverted investment away from conventional E&P. But, the interplay of peak oil demand, operator specialization and the energy transition continue to factor into exploration. What does the exploration future look like? Our experts Jerry Kepes and Keith King discuss on the podcast.

After falling to its lowest weighting in the S&P 500 and facing climate change headwinds, the state of energy investment may have hit crisis-level. How will E&P companies deliver growth? And, how does the financial community see the energy segment? Our financial and capital markets experts join the podcast to discuss.

Our experts take a walk down memory lane with us as we explore their 2019 expectations for upstream oil and gas markets. Plus, we play a fun upstream energy version of "Would you rather" - focused on what's ahead in 2020.

Offshore wind is seen by many as an emerging low-carbon opportunity where certain oil and gas firms can leverage competitive advantages from their established expertise in offshore projects. Rapidly falling costs, new technology and policy support have helped firms create value in offshore wind projects. But, is it a sustainable opportunity for offshore oil and gas companies?

Amid concerns of credibility, cash flows and carbon, investors are shying away from the oil and gas industry. What's behind investor apathy? And, how are E&P strategies changing? IHS Markit experts from our financial services and energy businesses take a look from both the investor and operator viewpoints.

Electric fracking promises a number of advantages including some cost reductions, noise reductions, emission reductions and more. So, what's the downside? Why aren't more operators moving to electric fracking? Our cost & technology analyst, Jesus Ozuna, gives an overview.

IHS Markit recently estimated the US oilfield water management market to now be valued somewhere around $37.5 billion. That represents a 12% year-on-year market growth from 2018—mainly driven by water disposal and water hauling. On our recent podcast, our experts Paola Perez Pena and Prescott Roach give us an overview the market, including how the Permian Basin plays a part.

In part two of our podcast on low-carbon strategies, we explore how upstream oil and gas companies are balancing profitability of the various low carbon investments.

Can low-carbon be profitable? Chris DeLucia joins the podcast to discuss the value proposition of alternative businesses for oil and gas companies.

China's contribution in the global economic growth has been unparalleled, with its economic rise mirroring an exponential demand growth for oil and gas resources. Upstream experts, Nick Sharma and Kunfeng Zhu, join the podcast to explain the prospects of shale and tight gas in China in the upcoming years.

The MSGBC, or Senegal, Basin off the coasts of Senegal and Mauritania in western Africa is one of the most exciting areas of frontier exploration in the world. To date, there have been 168 newfield wildcats drilled in the basin that have discovered approximately 9 Bboe of recoverable resources, with over half of the volumes discovered in Senegalese waters. Jerry Kepes joins us to provide an overview of geological attributes and activity in the basin, and he gives us an overview of how potential discoveries might impact the broader market and region.

Brazil, Mexico, and Guyana represent critical E&P hotspots within Latin America. Ford Tanner, an analyst covering oil and gas risk in Latin America, joins the podcast to share his views on the most important above-ground risks facing E&P investors.

The Permian and Appalachia, respectively, are widely recognized as the two lowest-cost US onshore oil and gas basins. One might expect similarities between the two plays. Instead, we are seeing operational leadership taking different trajectories. Our North America plays & basins experts join the podcast to discuss the strategies taken by pure plays and the majors in each of the plays.

2018 ended with proppant supply and demand peaking. This coupled with all-time highs in production provides for an interesting and challenging landscape for the proppant market in 2019 and beyond. Brandon Savisky joins the podcast to discuss what's ahead.

Upstream M&A activity has seemed to focus on the Permian Basin over the past 18 months as operators sought entry and/or consolidation opportunities in North America's most active oil growth play. What options are left for investors to easily and cheaply take over oil-weighted Permian pure-plays? Our experts discuss.

Oil and gas operators showed renewed confidence in 2018 as prices rose through September. Large North American E&P peer group data revealed share repurchases and dividend increases. But, did plunging oil prices in Q4 derail investment plans for 2019? Dan Pratt and Andrew Byrne from our companies and transactions team join the podcast to discuss the outlook for North American mergers and acquisition activities.

2018 was quite an interesting year for the oil and gas sector. In 2018, the US became the world's top oil producer—in part to the boom we continue to see in the Permian. Upstream experts, Reed Olmstead and David Vaucher join the podcast to interpret recent oil news and preview what might be ahead for 2019. Find more energy expert insights at www.ihsmarkit.com/energyblog.

Upstream spending in the Middle East looks like it will continue to grow in the coming years. In this episode of Upstream in Perspective, Aje Singh Rihel from our upstream cost and technology team joins the podcast to discuss some of the cost and spending trends in the Middle East.

The transition toward a lower-carbon energy world puts traditional fossil-fuel based producers under growing pressure from shareholders and the general public. Chris DeLucia joins this episode to share how upstream oil and gas players around the world have responded.

Keith King offers some well analysis on the Atlantic Margin basins as Tullow and Chariot are poised to deliver key commercial tests offshore Namibia. What are initial results and what does it mean for the future of the Southwest African Coastal Basin? We discuss in this episode.

The 2014–17 downcycle has taken a toll especially on some producer governments that continue to struggle with its legacy. Many measures taken helped manage this near-term crisis, but with various degrees of pain to host governments. Our above-ground risk team explores this vulnerability to understand where countries have made changes to economic policy, political frameworks and hydrocarbon policies that have the potential to better insulate them against future price shocks. Our above-ground risk experts discuss on today's episode.

For much of the oil and gas industry's history, bigger was unquestionably better. But that truism has been displaced by a push towards specialization. Where companies once strived for breadth, in technologies and geography, they now compete against each other in narrower competitive bands in pursuit of a deeper, if more limited, set of skills to distinguish themselves. Our experts discuss on today's episode.

What's the potential for capital investments in Latin America in the coming years? Carlos Rocha provides us with an overview of the region and how he expects it to fit into the global oil markets through 2030.